The board of management for Rainycrest Home for the Aged here has agreed to grant the province a three-month extension on its control order over the home while district municipalities try to find a long-term solution to its management issues.
Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc. will continue to run the home on an interim basis during the 90-day period.
The agreement was reached last week following discussions between the board of management and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
The ministry had requested a six-month extension on its one-year takeover, which occurred on March 18, 2005, in order to perform an independent operational review.
Fort Frances Mayor Dan Onichuk, who also chairs the Rainycrest board, said the board was not in favour of the extension because the ministry initially had said it would complete that review by January.
Also last week, the Rainycrest board passed a motion to enter into discussions with the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board for the permanent management of Rainycrest, “as per their amended proposal, received Feb. 23, 2006.”
Both Riverside and the DSSAB—as well as Extendicare, a private health care company—had expressed an interest last March in running the home.
While the DSSAB submitted an extensive and detailed proposal, including programs and costs, Riverside only has submitted a letter expressing its interest, Mayor Onichuk said.
The ministry took control of the home—for a period of one year, according to the Homes for the Aged and Rest Homes Act—last March and appointed Riverside as interim administrator until a permanent solution could be found.
The Rainycrest issue was one of four topics slated to be discussed at a district health care forum attended by district elected officials scheduled for Saturday here.
But the forum was postponed due to the new agreement with the ministry, and the lack of available speakers.
Other items on the agenda were to be the Family Health Team, land ambulance, and the Local Health Integration Network.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
